WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump mentioned Tuesday the U.S. is aware of the place Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding throughout the Israel-Iran battle however doesn’t need him killed “for now.”
Trump urged, in a social media posting, Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” because the five-day battle continues to escalate.
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” Trump added. “He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.”
Trump’s more and more muscular feedback in direction of Tehran come after urging Tehran’s 9.5 million residents to flee for his or her lives as he reduce quick his go to to a global summit to return to Washington for pressing talks along with his nationwide safety staff.
Trump arrived on the White Home early Tuesday at a second of selecting in his presidency. Israel, with 5 days of missile strikes, has finished appreciable injury to Iran and believes it could possibly now deal a everlasting blow to Tehran’s nuclear program — notably if it will get a bit extra assist from the Republican president.
However deepening American involvement, maybe by offering the Israelis with bunker-busting bombs to penetrate Iranian nuclear websites constructed deep underground or providing different direct U.S. army assist, comes with huge political threat for Trump.
Trump, as he made his manner again to Washington, expressed frustration with Iranian leaders for failing to succeed in an settlement. He mentioned he was now in search of “a real end” to the battle and a “complete give-up” of Tehran’s nuclear program.
“They should have done the deal. I told them, ‘Do the deal,’” Trump informed reporters on Air Drive One. “So I don’t know. I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate.”
Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceable functions solely, and U.S. intelligence companies have assessed that Tehran isn’t actively pursuing a bomb.
Trump, who deliberate to fulfill with advisers within the State of affairs Room, seems to be step by step constructing the general public case for a extra direct American position within the battle. His shift in tone comes because the U.S. has repositioned warships and army plane within the area to reply if the battle between Israel and Iran additional escalates.
Trump made an early departure from G7
The White Home introduced Monday, whereas Trump was at the Group of Seven summit within the Canadian Rockies, that he would reduce his journey quick.
“Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” he wrote on social media. “I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
Requested about his evacuation remark aboard Air Drive One, Trump informed reporters: “I just want people to be safe.”
“We’re looking at better than a ceasefire. We’re not looking for a ceasefire,” Trump mentioned.
Trump mentioned he wasn’t ruling out a diplomatic possibility and he may ship Vice President JD Vance and particular envoy Steve Witkoff to fulfill with the Iranians.
He additionally dismissed congressional testimony from Nationwide Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, who informed lawmakers in March that U.S. spy companies didn’t consider Iran was constructing a nuclear weapon.
“I don’t care what she said,” Trump mentioned. “I think they were very close to having it.”
Hypothesis grows that Trump could also be tilting towards extra direct involvement
The Israelis say their offensive has eviscerated Iran’s air defenses they usually can now strike targets throughout the nation at will. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Israeli bombardment will proceed till Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missiles are destroyed.
Thus far, Israel has focused a number of Iranian nuclear program websites however has not been in a position to destroy Iran’s Fordo uranium enrichment facility.
The positioning is buried deep underground — and to eradicate it, Israel might have the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Huge Ordnance Penetrator, which makes use of its weight and sheer kinetic power to succeed in deeply buried targets after which explode. However Israel doesn’t have the munition or the bomber wanted to ship it — the penetrator is at the moment delivered by the B-2 stealth bomber.
Israel’s personal defenses stay largely intact within the face of Iran’s retaliatory strikes, however a few of Tehran’s missiles are getting by and having lethal affect.
The White Home dispatched Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth for a prime-time TV look as hypothesis grows about whether or not Trump might be tilting towards extra direct U.S. involvement. Hegseth informed Fox Information Channel that “of course” Trump needed to see a deal made to curb Iran’s nuclear program.
“His position has not changed,” Hegseth mentioned. “What you’re watching in real time is peace through strength and America first. Our job is to be strong. We are postured defensively in the region to be strong in pursuit of a peace deal. And we certainly hope that’s what happens here.”
Trump continues to push Iran to barter on its nuclear program
Trump, in the meantime, throughout an alternate with reporters on the sidelines of the G7, declined to say what it will take for the U.S. to get extra instantly concerned. As an alternative, he continued to press Iran on negotiations over its nuclear program.
“They should talk, and they should talk immediately,” Trump mentioned throughout a bilateral assembly with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. He added, “I’d say Iran is not winning this war.”
To make certain, Trump within the days-old battle has sought to restrain Netanyahu. He rejected a plan introduced by Israel to the U.S. to kill Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in line with a U.S. official conversant in the matter, who was not licensed to touch upon the delicate matter and spoke on the situation of anonymity.
The Israelis had knowledgeable the Trump administration in current days that that they had developed a reputable plan to kill Khamenei.
A widening schism over Iran amongst Trump’s MAGA supporters
Trump bristled when requested about a few of his MAGA trustworthy, together with conservative pundit Tucker Carlson, who’ve advised that additional U.S. involvement could be a betrayal to supporters who had been drawn to his promise to finish U.S. involvement in costly and limitless wars.
“Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that,’ IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!’” the president wrote on social media.
Different outstanding Trump supporters have additionally raised considerations about how far the president ought to go in backing Israel.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Turning Level USA founder Charlie Kirk are amongst outstanding Trump World allies who’ve famous that voters backed Trump as a result of he promised to not entangle the nation in international clashes and to be cautious of increasing U.S. involvement within the Mideast battle.
He ran on a promise to shortly finish the wars in Gaza and Ukraine however has struggled to seek out an endgame to both.
However there are additionally Trump backers, together with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who’re making the case that that is Trump’s second to ship a decisive blow to Iran. Graham is looking for Trump to “go all-in” in backing Israel and destroying Iran’s nuclear program.
Related Press writers Josh Boak, Tara Copp, Darlene Superville and Will Weissert contributed to this report.
